and events conspire to leave us free； that we enjoy communion with our soul。 At the worst； we are so fallen and passive that we may say shortly we have none。 An arctic torpor seizes upon men。 Although built of nerves； and set adrift in a stimulating world； they develop a tendency to go bodily to sleep； consciousness becomes engrossed among the reflex and mechanical parts of life； and soon loses both the will and power to look higher considerations in the face。 This is ruin； this is the last failure in life； this is temporal damnation； damnation on the spot and without the form of judgment。 'What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and LOSE HIMSELF？'
It is to keep a man awake； to keep him alive to his own soul and its fixed design of righteousness； that the better part of moral and religious education is directed； not only that of words and doctors； but the sharp ferule of calamity under which we are all God's scholars till we die。 If； as teachers； we are to say anything to the purpose； we must say what will remind the pupil of his soul； we must speak that soul's dialect； we must talk of life and conduct as his soul would have him think of them。 If； from some conformity between us and the pupil； or perhaps among all men； we do in truth speak in such a dialect and express such views； beyond question we shall touch in him a spring； beyond question he will recognise the dialect as one that he himself has spoken in his better hours； beyond question he will cry； 'I had forgotten； but now I remember； I too have eyes； and I had forgot to use them！ I too have a soul of my own； arrogantly upright； and to that I will listen and conform。' In short； say to him anything that he has once thought； or been upon the point of thinking； or show him any view of life that he has once clearly seen； or been upon the point of clearly seeing； and you have done your part and may leave him to complete the education for himself。
Now； the view taught at the present time seems to me to want greatness； and the dialect in which alone it can be intelligibly uttered is not the dialect of my soul。 It is a sort of postponement of life； nothing quite is； but something different is to be； we are to keep our eyes upon the indirect from the cradle to the grave。 We are to regulate our conduct not by desire； but by a politic eye upon the future； and to value acts as they will bring us money or good opinion； as they will bring us； in one word； PROFIT。 We must be what is called respectable； and offend no one by our carriage； it will not do to make oneself conspicuous … who knows？ even in virtue？ says the Christian parent！ And we must be what is called prudent and make money； not only because it is pleasant to have money； but because that also is a part of respectability； and we cannot hope to be received in society without decent possessions。 Received in society！ as if that were the kingdom of heaven！ There is dear Mr。 So…and…so； … look at him！ … so much respected … so much looked up to … quite the Christian merchant！ And we must cut our conduct as strictly as possible after the pattern of Mr。 So…and…so； and lay our whole lives to make money and be strictly decent。 Besides these holy injunctions； which form by far the greater part of a youth's training in our Christian homes； there are at least two other doctrines。 We are to live just now as well as we can； but scrape at last into heaven； where we shall be good。 We are to worry through the week in a lay； disreputable way； but； to make matters square； live a different life on Sunday。
The train of thought we have been following gives us a key to all these positions； without stepping aside to justify them on their own ground。 It is because we have been disgusted fifty times with physical squalls； and fifty times torn between conflicting impulses； that we teach people this indirect and tactical procedure in life； and to judge by remote consequences instead of the immediate face of things。 The very desire to act as our own souls would have us； coupled with a pathetic disbelief in ourselves； moves us to follow the example of others； perhaps； who knows？ they may be on the right track； and the more our patterns are in number； the better seems the chance； until； if we be acting in concert with a whole civilised nation； there are surely a majority of chances that we must be acting right。 And again； how true it is that we can never behave as we wish in this tormented sphere； and can only aspire to different and more favourable circumstances； in order to stand out and be ourselves wholly and rightly！ And yet once more； if in the hurry and pressure of affairs and passions you tend to nod and become drowsy； here are twenty…four hours of Sunday set apart for you to hold counsel with your soul and look around you on the possibilities of life。
This is not； of course； all that is to be； or even should be； said for these doctrines。 Only； in the course of this chapter； the reader and I have agreed upon a few catchwords； and been looking at morals on a certain system； it was a pity to lose an opportunity of testing the catchwords； and seeing whether； by this system as well as by others； current doctrines could show any probable justification。 If the doctrines had come too badly out of the trial； it would have condemned the system。 Our sight of the world is very narrow； the mind but a pedestrian instrument； there's nothing new under the sun； as Solomon says； except the man himself； and though that changes the aspect of everything else； yet he must see the same things as other people； only from a different side。
And now； having admitted so much； let us turn to criticism。
If you teach a man to keep his eyes upon what others think of him； unthinkingly to lead the life and hold the principles of the majority of his contemporaries； you must discredit in his eyes the one authoritative voice of his own soul。 He may be a docile citizen； he will never be a man。 It is ours； on the other hand； to disregard this babble and chattering of other men better and worse than we are； and to walk straight before us by what light we have。 They may be right； but so； before heaven； are we。 They may know； but we know also； and by that knowledge we must stand or fall。 There is such a thing as loyalty to a man's own better self； and from those who have not that； God help me； how am I to look for loyalty to others？ The most dull； the most imbecile； at a certain moment turn round； at a certain point will hear no further argument； but stand unflinching by their own dumb； irrational sense of right。 It is not only by steel or fire； but through contempt and blame； that the martyr fulfils the calling of his dear soul。 Be glad if you are not tried by such extremities。 But although all the world ranged themselves in one line to tell you 'This is wrong；' be you your own faithful vassal and the ambassador of God … throw down the glove and answer 'This is right。' Do you think you are only declaring yourself？ Perhaps in some dim way； like a child who delivers a message not fully understood； you are opening wider the straits of prejudice and preparing mankind for some truer and more spiritual grasp of truth； perhaps； as you stand forth for your own judgment； you are covering a thousand weak ones with your body； perhaps； by this declaration alone； you have avoided the guilt of false witness against humanity and the little ones unborn。 It is good； I believe； to be respectable； but much nobler to respect oneself and utter the voice of God。 God； if there be any God； speaks daily in a new language by the tongues of men； the thoughts and habits of each fresh generation and each new…coined spirit throw another light upon the universe and contain another commentary on the printed Bibles； every scruple； every true dissent； every glimpse of something new； is a letter of God's alphabet； and though there is a grave responsibility for all who speak； is there none for those who unrighteously keep silence and conform？ Is not that also to conceal and cloak God's counsel？ And how should we regard the man of science who suppressed all facts that would not tally with the orthodoxy of the hour？
Wrong？ You are as surely wrong as the sun rose this morning round the revolving shoulder of the world。 Not truth； but truthfulness； is the good of your endeavour。 For when will men receive that first part and prerequisite of truth； that； by the order of things； by the greatness of the universe； by the darkness and partiality of man's experience； by the inviolate secrecy of God； kept close in His most open revelations； every man is； and to the end of the ages must be； wrong？ Wrong to the universe； wrong to mankind； wrong to God。 And yet in another sense； and that plainer and nearer； every man of men； who wishes truly； must be right。 He is right to himself； and in the measure of his sagacity and candour。 That let him do in all sincerity and zeal； not sparing a thought for contrary opinions； that； for what it is worth； let him proclaim。 Be not afraid； although he be wrong； so also is the dead； stuffed Dagon he insults。 For the voice of God； whatever it is； is not that stammering； inept tradition which the people holds。 These truths survive in travesty； swamped in a world of spiritual darkness and confusion； and what a few comprehend and faithfully hold； the many； in their dead jargon； repeat； degrade； and misinterpret。
So far of Respectability； what the Covenanters used to call 'rank conformity'： the deadliest gag and wet blanket that can be laid on men。 And now of Profit。 And this doctrine is perhaps the more redoubtable； because it harms all sorts of men； not only the heroic and self…reliant； but the obedient； cowlike squadrons。 A man； by this doctrine； looks to consequences at the second； or third； or fiftieth turn。 He chooses his end； and for that； with wily turns and through a great sea of tedium； steers this mortal bark。 There may be political wisdom in such a view； but I am persuaded there can spring no great moral zeal。 To look thus obliquely upon life is the very re